MONKI SEE, MONKI DO

 

All photos courtesy of Monki

 

Last year in October, while on a trip to Copenhagen to visit family, I had spent a day shopping and walking around the city center, trying to check out the latest Scandinavian fashions. There was one particular concept store I had managed to stumble into that totally blew me away - MONKI.

My first impression of the store made me think I was transported back to England in 1968. Did I step into famed swinging sixties store Granny Takes A trip on King Road, London; or did Sid & Marty Krofft (creators of groovy TV shows H.R. Pufnstuf and The Bugaloos) go into interior design, and I just didn't know about it?

The more I wandered around the shop with sheer amazement in my eyes, the more I got to analyze the small details of the interior set up and the products that were organized all over the place. Then I realized - I had entered into my own personal retail heaven. A store that could combine the aesthetics from my two favorite decades where my own style is heavily influenced from - a mix of sharp, geometric contrasts and clean lines of the 60s, as well as the over-sized, boldly structured garments of the 80s. Somehow Monki has managed to take inspiration from these two decades yet spin them with a fun, youthful, and modern twist that will surely appeal to ladies who like to make a statement without being over the top.

Even though Monki was started in Sweden, a lot of the inspiration for their clothes come from the streets of Toyko - and you know what, it works! It's not gawdy, nor tacky stuff here - it's smart, colorful clothes that have an underlying chicness and sophistication. It should also be noted that Monki is the little sister of Weekday (home to hip denim label Cheap Monday), another great concept store based out of Sweden.
If you don't happen to live in Sweden or Denmark, you can also find Monki stores in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, and Hong Kong. There are no plans for Monki to open up in the United States for next year, but you never know... Fingers crossed we can get at least an online store set up for us Yanks in the mean time!

The Swede Beat & Friends [HOLIDAY SPECIAL]

flyer design: http://carolinakrupinska.com/

The Swede Beat Magazine is throwing the last party of the year in their series of monthly club nights at Williamsburg's Trophy Bar inviting Swedish musicians and other creative types to play their favorite tunes.
For this occasion The Swede Beat invited Palms Out Sounds' Marcus Price from Stockholm, Sweden and Swedish/Israeli bass lover TurkDisco.
Lydia Kellam of The Swede Beat is warming up the crowd between 9-11pm.

Wednesday December 15, 2010
9PM - 2AM
Free
Trophy Bar
351 Broadway, Williamsburg Brooklyn
j,m,z to Marcy Avenue or L-train to Bedford Avenue
Facebook RSVP


Ps. There will be Swedish Christmas goodies for all kind people

ceo + jj

Friends of the blissful synth-pop, mysterious electro from Far North and pop outfits with taken personas should head over to Williamsburg on Saturday night when Swedish hands jj and ceo (Tough Alliance/Sincerely Yours) are DJing at Cameo Gallery.

Watch ceo's video for "Come With Me" by Sweden's most promising music video director, Marcus Söderlund, below.

ceo - come with me from Modular People on Vimeo.

Saturday, September 4, 2010
Doors at 7pm
$7

Cameo Gallery
93 North 6th Street
Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Hosted by Modular People

More info here

Baby Fever is Contagious!

Watch out, baby fever is contagious!!! According to a study in Sweden, researchers found that women are more likely to have babies after their co-workers have one. Apparently the study shows women are influenced by other women (we totally knew that already). It also found that co-workers' families can be affected by this 'baby fever.'

NY Times article here:
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/01/how-baby-fever-spreads-through-offices/

Robyn - Bodytalk Pt 2

Artwork and tracklisting reveleaed for Robyn's new album Bodytalk Pt 2 that's out in US in September. This time around she teamed up with Swedish producers Kleerup and Klas Åhlund, Philly based DJ Diplo, and Swedish DJs Savage Skulls, along with rap king Snoop Dogg to create another promising album from our favorite pop princess.
Listen to first single Hang With Me Here

BODY TALK PT 2 – TRACK LISTING
1. In My Eyes
2. Include Me Out
3. Hang With Me
4. Love Kills
5. We Dance To The Beat
6. Criminal Intent
7. U Should Know Better Feat. Snoop Dogg
8. Indestructible (Acoustic)

In association with I Heart Radio you can win tickets to her private performance in NYC this Thursday. Click here to enter competition.

Read more about the release and watch Robyn's performance at David Letterman in The Swede Beat Magazine's latest music post.

Funk Fest: NYC June 30th

Sweden's best dance label Trunkfunk Records is coming to New York for a DJ set at Ella tonight. Berlin-based, Gothenburg -born DJ, producer and Trunkfunk Records label owner Fredrik Nyberg has long been a key player in Sweden's music scene.

Tonight he is DJing with DJ La Fleur (Stockholm) and Brooklyn based Faux Mex. Trunkfunk just celebrated their 10 year anniversary with an outstanding compilation of pure electro house. Get it here

To get in the mood for the best dance party this week head over to Trunkfunk's soundcloud for some fantastic tunes.

This sweating dance party is brought to you by The Swede Beat Magazine and NickyDigital so come get down with us tonight.


Ella (downstairs)
9 Avenue A @ Houston Street
11pm - 4am

Swedish Summer Fest

After dragging around in darkness for months Swedes go crazy in the glorious summer sun. And that's exactly what The Swede Beat Magazine is planning to do the evening of Wednesday June 23 in Brooklyn, NY.

Swedish act hiphop act Ontario, P3 Pop, the best music show on Swedish Radio, Klubb Supermix and The Swede Beat's own DJs will be spinning those hot summer beats we longed for so long.

The Swede Beat Magazine is bringing you the fun and the swedes, all you have to do is show up and dive into The Swede Beat's version of Svensk Sommar.


Drinks Specials All Night Long
Backyard is open
Tons of Swedish indie tunes

Trophy Bar
351 Broadway
Williamsburg, Brooklyn

More info here

Hall of Femmes

Hall of Femmes: Ruth Ansel is the first in a series of books highlighting leading female designers by producing books, lectures and exhibitions. This ongoing project was founded by Swedish graphic design duo Hjärta Smärta.

The first publication features the legendary art director Ruth Ansel, one of the first female art directors. In the 60's, when she was just 24, she and Bea Feitler became co-art directors of Harper's Bazaar, in the 70's she was the art director of The New York Times Magazine, and in the 80's Vanity Fair. Every time she was the first woman in the position she had.

Celebrate female creativity and leadership this Thursday at Danziger Projects in New York for Hall Of Femmes launch and book signing event.



Book Launch:
Hall of Femmes - Ruth Ansel

Thursday June 17

6PM-8PM

Danziger Projects

534 West 24th Street



www.hjartasmarta.se

http://halloffemmes.blogspot.com/

Swedish Hip-Hop Invasion

I just left an amazing SXSW festival spending most of the time with the cream of the crop in Swedish hip hop. Sweden is mostly known for the melancholic twee-pop in courtesy of talents such as El Perro Del Mar, Jens Lekman, Jose Gonzales and many more. But there is a whole lot more to discover from this northern country.
The Swedish hip-hop scene is blasting! So much impressive talents to discover!
For all you west coast chicks I strongly recommend you to hit one of 2 Swedish hip-hop showcases this week.

Swedish Hip-Hop Invasion Starring international Hip-Hop superstars live and direct from Sweden:
Adam Tensta
Looptroop Rockers
Timbuktu & Chords

SAN FRANSISCO THURSDAY MARCH 25
Club Six Dark Room 60
6th Street
San Francisco
$10 Doors at 8PM

LOS ANGELES SUNDAY MARCH 28
Garage Theater
251 East 7th Street
Long Beach, CA 90813
$8 Doors at 8PM

Check out The Swede Beat Magazine next week for exclusive interviews and videos from SXSW with our favorite Swedish hip-hop stars.

Call For Artists:: Clandestino Festival

Just got this from friends at Clandestino -

CALL FOR ARTISTS :: CLANDESTINO FESTIVAL

We have initiated the booking of artists for the 8th edition of Clandestino Festival. The dates are set to 11-13 June 2010 in Göteborg, Sweden.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any recommendations of artists you would like too see in the line-up or have other ideas of collaborations you want to share with us. For artists there is no specific application form, just send us a request with all necessary information and we will do our best to try to answer.

However note that it is impossible for us to actually answer all requests, invitations to concerts and proposals for collaborations. We do our best but if we have not been able to answer you within a month it is likley we have drown in the work to make it all happen.

Thanks for your attention. For further info, galleries and much more check out: www.clandestinofestival.org | www.bwanaclub.org

Email: info@clandestinofestival.org

Some Swedish Favorites

Since I'm spending a couple of weeks back home, this blog entry is dedicated to my snowy country up north, Sweden. With the fact that the Swedish music industry is rockin' and we are producing talents that are popular all over the world, I decided to put together a 2008 top list, with talented music acts worth keeping an eye on in the year of 2009 too.

1. Kleerup
Kleerup is a DJ and producer who has been quite busy the past year. His self-titled debut album offers some great electronic beats together with strings and drums embedded in the beautiful voices from pop princesses such as Robyn, Lykke Li and Neneh Cherry. This album is an evidence of a succesful collaboration with talented female artists and a Swedish electrobeat master. All you have to is listen. And then dance of course.

Kleerup is also behind the beats of Robyn's "With every heartbeat" that scored the first spot at the British charts in 2007.




2. Veronica Maggio
A Swedish beauty with Italian background composes sweet jazz beats and sassy pop lyrics. Her debut single " dumpa mig " (Dump me) was climbing the hit lists in the beginning of 2006. Since then her albums has been well received and she has been nominated for several awards. Even though Swedish is not your native language, I could highly recommend this Swedish soul star.





3. Timo Räisänen
A Swedish/ Finnish guitar guy with an Indian mother. He started backing up for bands such as The Embassy and Håkan Hellström. After playing for others for a couple of years, he went solo. The title of his album debut was influenced by his Indian heritage and was named "I'm an indian". Listen to Timo Räisänen if you enjoy heavy rock, accompanied with seducing strings and a powerful voice. Timo's music is an explosion of feelings, soul and powerful rock-pop. 2008 was a good year for this rock n roll guy. He released his third album "...and then there was Timo", was out touring and participated in a Swedish game show (!).





4. Adam Tensta
The last name of this hip hop artist is taken from a Swedish suburb outside Stockholm. A place that is known for its diversity when it comes to nationalities and etnicities. "My cool" from his debut album "It's a Tensta Thing" was played frequently in clubs and at radio stations all over Sweden. What makes this hip hop artists unique is the fact he is able to mix genres such as hip hop, electro, pop, house and grime in a perfect combo.





5. Anna Ternheim
Anna Ternheim is a Swedish sing and songwriter with a deep, powerful voice that reaches all the way to your deepest soul. She released her debut album in Sweden 2004, and released her international album in 2007. She has a bluesy sound, with dark and complex folk rock tunes. Live, Anna often is only armed by an acoustic guitar, a piano and her ipod as backing band.

She was the queen of 2008 Swedish Grammy awards and received prizes for Best Album of the year and Best Female Artist. Her latest album "Leaving on a mayday" was produced by Björn Yttling from Peter, Björn and John. A busy producer who is behind productions from Lykke Li, Shout Out Louds and Sahara Hotnights.




Want to know more about Swedish music? Sign up to my online magazine about Swedish culture here.